On Wednesday, Elon Musk briefly joined a conversation between President-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Although Musk, who recently voiced support for Trump, was not expected to participate, he entered the room and greeted Zelenskyy before stepping aside, according to sources close to the matter. Musk’s involvement in the conversation was minimal, without contributions to the core discussions between the leaders.
Neither Zelenskyy nor Trump initially disclosed Musk’s brief presence on the call. Reports later confirmed Musk’s appearance, though further details remain limited, with Trump’s transition team and Musk’s representatives declining to comment.
Following the call, Zelenskyy shared positive feedback, noting the conversation as “excellent.” He expressed Ukraine’s intent to continue close dialogue and cooperation with the incoming U.S. administration, highlighting the importance of consistent U.S. support for global stability and peace efforts.
Trump previously suggested he could swiftly resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, asserting that he would reach a resolution as early as his president-elect period. During a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump maintained an ambiguous stance on Ukraine’s success in the conflict, instead prioritizing U.S. interests by advocating for an expedited end to hostilities.
Vice President-elect JD Vance also proposed that Ukraine might consider territorial concessions to achieve peace. Musk, similarly, has suggested Ukraine should cede parts of its territory as part of a peace arrangement with Russia. These suggestions have been met with resistance from Ukrainian leaders, especially after Musk’s remarks in 2022 that Crimea might be ceded to Russia in a peace settlement. This statement prompted criticisms from Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials.
In addition, Musk has been reported to have had phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the conflict. Although Musk’s SpaceX-provided Starlink internet systems have offered critical communication support to Ukraine, his proposal to negotiate territorial concessions has drawn a polarized response from Ukrainians and global observers alike.
